Bits: Straily struggles in second outing

• Oakland Athletics right-hander Dan Straily struggled in his second big league start Wednesday, allowing four home runs among eight hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings. Straily, the minor league strikeout king who pitched well against Toronto in his debut, will miss many bats, but Wednesday was a rude awakening and a reminder he's 23 and finished 2011 pitching in A-ball.

• Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis went hitless in three at-bats Wednesday, but at least he stole a pair of bases. Kipnis was leading the AL in steals in mid-June, but even with Wednesday's output, he has swiped only four bases over the past five weeks. Plus, Kipnis is hitting .214 with nary a home run since July 1. Don't drop fantasy's No. 3 second baseman for the season, but be careful with expectations, or what you trade for him.

Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesFrom ESPN Stats & Info: The Rangers crushed Josh Beckett on Wednesday, going 5-for-7 with a triple and homer against his fastball and 3-for-7 with two home runs against his cutter.

• Boston Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett struggled again Wednesday, allowing eight runs in five innings against the Texas Rangers. Beckett, who has won only once since May, gave up three home runs, but that seems to be an anomaly; nobody had homered off him since May. Beckett might be headed for the DL with back issues, but those in deep leagues shouldn't give up yet. He's not this bad.

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Eric Karabell

Eric Karabell is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He has worked at ESPN since 1997 and covered fantasy sports for ESPN since 2001, specializing in baseball and football. Eric contributes to ESPN The Magazine and appears on a variety of digital platforms for ESPN.com. He has been honored twice as fantasy sports writer of the year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, his blog was named best fantasy baseball series for 2007 and he was inducted into the inaugural FSWA Hall of Fame class in 2011.

Eric grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, and accordingly, favors all Philly teams first, his fantasy teams second. He previously served as ESPN.com's lead NBA editor, and is a former Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer. Eric is also the author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments," published by Source Books and available in bookstores and online.